Agricultural disc sharpener



Nov. 2o, 1956 C. s. BASS AGRICULTURAL DISC SHARPENER Filed March 13,1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ArroR/v Nov. 1956 c. s. BASS 2,770,986

AGRICULTURAL DISC SHARPENER Filed Maron 13. 1953 :s sheets-sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. CWA/rz s 5'. 5,4 ss

A Tra/avm Nov. 20, 1956 c. s. BAss 2,770,986

AGRICULTURAL DISC SHARPENER Filed March 13, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN1/ENTOR. W9/HES' S. 6A SS United States Patent AGRICULTURAL DISC SHARPENERCharles S. Bass, Plainview, Tex. Application March 13, 1953, Seria] No.342,091 5 Claims. (Cl. 76-89.2)

This invention appertains to improvements in sharpening apparatus foragricultural implements such as disc harrows, disc plows, disccu-ltivators and the like.

A primary object of this invention is to provide a portable apparatusfor sharpening by a roller pressure method the discs f an agriculturalapparatus.

A further 'object of this invention is to provide cooperating pressurerollers which engage the opposing facesl ofadisc at its periphery andexert cooperative pressure in a novel manner to cause the periphal edgeof the disc to spread radially outwardly in a controlled manner whilethe shape remains the same and strength is not diminished. A furtherobject of this invention is to stress the peripheral edge of a discbeyond its limit of elasticity with coacting rollers to cause thematerial to flow radially outwardly thereby increasing the diameter ofthe disc and producing the desired beveled peripheral cutting edge.

A Istill further object of this invention is to provide means forsupporting the rollers in a manner so that they can act on the discswithout necessitating the removall of the discs from the harrow orcultivator or the like machine and in a manner so that the pressureapplied thereby ron the discs can be easily adjusted.

Another object of this invention is to provide a head which carries thepressure rollers yand houses a means for adjusting them bodily towardsand away from each other and which is pivotable about axes substantiallyparallel with the axes of rotation of the rollers and also oscillatableabout an axis transverse to the axis of rotation ofthe rollers, suchadjustment of the head being provided to control the angle of attack ofthe rollers and the travel thereof with respect to the faces of a disc.

A further `object of this invention is to provide automatic pressuremeans acting on the head to tilt it about the axis transverse to theaxis of rotation of the rollers and means limiting the forward movementof the head, that is, toward the disc which itis facing, as the rollersare in engagement with the opposing faces of the disc.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a drivev means whichpermits of the adjustment of the head and the rollers and is operativeunder `any adjustment condition.

These and ancillary objects are attained by this invention, the bestknown embodiment of which is Set forth herein and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a top plan View of a disc sharpening device constructed inaccordance with this invention and showing the pressure rollers in useand in contact with the opposing faces of a conventional disc.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view;

`Figure 3 is a front elevational View;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional View taken on line 4-4 o-f Figure 2 andshowing in detail the means for moving the rollers bodily toward andaway from each other;

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional View taken on line 5 5 of ICC Figure 2 andshowing the meshing gear arrangement of the drive means;

Figure 6 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken along thelongitudinal center line of the device;

Figure 7 is a longitudinal horizontal sectional view taken on line 7-7of Figure 6 and showing the means for moving the rollers bodily towardand away from each other;

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional detail view taken on line 8-8 of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a cross-sectional detail View taken on line 9-9 of Figure 7;

Figure 10 is a cross-sectional detail view taken on line 10-10 of Figure6;

Figure 11 is a cross-sectional View taken on line 11--11 of Figure 3,and

Figure l2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 12- 12 of Figure 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the sharpening deviceincludes a base 10 on one end of which a gear box 12 is mounted in anupstanding manner. lournalled in the gear box 12 are parallel shafts 14and 16, the outer ends 18 of which are non-circular for insertion in acomplemental socket 20 on the end of a flexible shaft 22, which issuitably connected to a power source. Meshing gears 24 and 26 arecarried by the shafts 14 and 16 and disposed within the gear box 12 forpower transfer so that the drive Shaft 22 can be connected to eithershaft dependent upon the desired direction of rotation of the shafts 14and 16.

Connected by universal joints 28 to the shafts 14 and 16 are shafts 36and 32, which telescope in tubular shafts 34 and 36, all of said shaftsbeing non-circular for freedom of axial movement but fixed for rotation(Figure l0) The shafts 30, 34 and 32, 36 diverge from the shafts 14 and16 and are connected by universal joints 38 to to roller shafts 40 and42.

The roller shafts 40 and 42 are rotatably mounted in bearing sleeves 44and 46 which are rotatably positioned in slightly forwardly converginglongitudinally extending bores 4S and 50 that are formed in a head 52,it being apparent that the sleeves 44 and 46 are eccentric members inthat the openings through which the shafts 40 and 42 are mounted areeccentric with respect to the body of the sleeve in each case and thatthe axis of such opening is parallel to the Kaxis of the outer surfaceof the sleeve. Coacting rollers 54 and 56 of hardened steel are securedron the protruding forward ends lof shafts 40 and 42 by nuts 5S.

The head 52 has a hinge plate 60 attached to its underside, the knuckle62 of the plate 60 being pivoted on a horizontal axis by a pin 64 to avertical member 66. The lower end of the member 66 is pivoted by a pin68 to the eye ends 70 of upstanding arms 72. The arms 72 are secured toand arcuate block 74, which is mounted for angular sliding movement in agroove 76 formed vertically in a support 78. The support 78 is anchoredby bolts 80 to the base 10 and has ya transverse opening 82 for a bolt84. The bolt 84 extends through an elongated arcuate slot 86 in theblock 74 and serves to lock the block in various adjusted position-s.

Flat members or plates 88 and 90 are fastened to the sides of the head52 and serve as journal supports for shafts 92 and 94, which larerotatably carried thereby. Hand wheels 96 and 98 are suitably xed to theouter ends of the shafts and worms 100 and 102 are provided on theirinner ends. The worms 100 and 102 are enmeshed with gears 104 and 166that are lixedly circumposed on the rearward ends of the sleeves 44 and46, within which the shafts 40 and 42 freely rotate. Shoulders 108 andare provided on the shafts 40 and 42 and abut the rear endsoftheisleeveseto locatetheshafts axially in cooperation` with .therollers.

The sleeves are provided with annular bearing shoulders 112 and 114, asshown in1=Figures 7 and 9, that are disposed: ini :annularl:openingsagll and t1 lieitiherh'eadi and arranged radially around thebores 48 andSa Thsp.

bye manually rotating.'l thethanduwheelss :and 698;: the.

sleeves 44 and1'46lare `rotatedithrough:theimeshing Iworms:-

100uandz102and theagears `104 andil'land ride intheir.

bearing:shoulders^` 112landc'1141ftor move--thefshafts 40%* and142andlbring;thetrollers':towardeachfother or. .movev them bodily apart.The inner ends of the shafts 92 and 94"-are i journalledL in the sides`ofia rearwardi projection 120 on the head 52 and the shaftsrotateirubearing-4 collars 122Cinthe platesSSland90,1asshown inFigure'8;

To exert a forward pressure on the headl52,apressurev 128 that isslidably disposed in an axial opening Vintheprojection- 120.l Aspring13D/is -coildronthe rodand bearsfat'its -forward end against an=abutment132 which'v extends radially from the shaft.

Aspring support is also providedunder the head 52 to bias the head*upwardly and slightlyjforwardly4 andl topermity freey and easy swinging`movementl of the head4 when 4changing or controlling the travel of therollers54 and '56 -on a disc. The springsupport acts `as ashocleabsorber.` The spring Support includes a lug 134 upstandingfrom'the base and ori-which oneend' of a coil spring'136 is mounted anda lug'138`which depends from the head to receive the upper end'ofthespring 136:'

T'limit the forwardswinging movement ofthe headI 52`faflexible limitmember or chain 1`40'is provided and is attachedat one end to the gearbox 12, at its other.

end' to the projection 120;' To assist in moving the head, ahandle orlever 142"is provided and is attached at one end to the top of the headand extends upwardly and rearwardly therefrom.

Itwill be'noted that the head 52' is solid with only the bores 48'and50formedtherethrough'so.that no weakening openings are madein thesides of the head where the greatest strain would occur. Also,.noadjustments are provided or placed onthe head 52 so that nothingcaninterfere withV the rotation of the discs 144, as they are beingsharpened. The head is very strong, either beinga solid block of metalor two or more parts welded together, so as to withstand the strain ofpressure outwardly imposed on it when pressure is applied to the disc144 by the rotating rollers 54and 56.

The pressure exerted by the rollers 54 and 56 in `the disc 144` can beadjusted by the rotation of the sleeves 44 and 46, as aforedescribed,which rotation, moves the. rollers bodily toward or away from eachother. The-faces of the rollers are ovalwhich gives the pressureaspreadingA effect on thedisc,v as the rollers are rotatedinv tightfrictional contact. withthe opposingfaces of the-disc.

By providing` the.te1escopic. driving shafts 30,` 34` and 32, 36 andtheir universal connections to shafts 14 and 16.

and roller shafts 40 and 42, the headacan be.` moved or rocked.'4backward and forward about. its horizontal parallel pivots and theangleof divergence between the rollers and thework can be. adjusted andyunder any such operating conditions-therewill still be an eflicientdriving. connection.

In use, the device is positioned in relation to a disc 144 (which isstill on the gangshaftland attached to theimplement) so that the rollers54 and 56 straddle the .peripheral edge'of the disc. The rollers arebrought into contacting` engagement `with `the` opposing, `faces Aof thedis'c, under the desired pressure, by rotating the sleeves 44 and 46.-.Rowenisihenappliedto-eithenthenshaftslt and 16 so as to turn the rollersin a direction that will cause them to move or roll upward on the disc144. The disc rotates counterclockwise or down toward the ground. Thetravel of the rollers closer to or away from the edge of the disc iscontrolled by tilting or rocking the head 52 through the medium/,of thehand lever 142.

The rotation of the disc between the rollers, as pressure isappliedlfbyf-.thetrollers, mashestandfspreads the disc until the desiredsmooth 4beveledcutting edge is obtained.

Of course,;whilel thetbestrknowmform rofthis `invention has beendisclosed herein,. it is by vway of example only as other forms may bemade, as come within the purview of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. A disc. sharpenerzfordiscs fwhch'areirotatably sup ported .by an 1.implement frame comprising a-frame,= a head pivotally/mountedy on theframe, rotary*- shafts mountedA invth'e headfat :avslightly' divergentangle; `a Apair of .side-.by '-side'. pressure frollers `on i saidshafts adapted tostraddle a disc and engage the=opposingfaces thereofAadjacent. itsiedgeg; said headA being pivotable4 aboutan axissubstantially transverse` to` the-axis of-rotation `of 'the rollers toimove the *l rollers nearer lto and-away `from-the y edgeA of thedisc;`and. means for moving said rollers bodily towardandaway from eachotherto adjust the pressure exerted 'therebyonsthefdisq said lastmeansincluding eccentric*l sleevest'in'said head within which'the rollershaftslrotate; gears on said'sleeves, and `worms enmeshed-with`-thegearsto rotate the sleeves.

2.1r A disc -sharpenerfor discs whichI are rotatably supported byanimplement'frame comprising a frame, a head pivotally mounted on theframe, rotary shafts mounted inthe headr'atra"slightly'divergent angle,a pair of side byyside-pressureV rollers onl said shafts adapted tostraddle a disc-andengage the opposingfaces thereof adjacent.

its edge; saidl headbeing 'pivotable about an axissubstantially'trausverse tothe axis of rotation of the rollers tomovethe.rollers nearerto andaway from theedge' of the disc, and' means forvmoving said rollers bodily toward and .away from each other .toadjust-the pressure exerted "thereby4 on the disc,.said last 4meansincluding.

eccentric sleeves in .said head within which the roller shafts rotate,gears on said sleeves, and worms enrneshed. With.the gears torotate.the.sle'eves, said worms,being provided on. shaft's .extending`laterally from the .end .of the headopposite the rollers and 4said lastshafts` having.

hand operating means thereon.

3. A disc-Sharpener for discs whichare .rotatably supported by animplement frame comprising a frame,. ahead pivotally mounted onrtheframe, rotary shafts mounted inthehead at-.a slightlydivergent angle, `apair. of side, by side pressure rollers onsad shafts adapted tostraddle.

a discfand engagethe opposing faces. thereofadjacent its edge,said..head being pivotableabout an axis` sub.

stantially transverse tothe axis. of rotation of` the-rollers to movethe rollers nearer to and away from thev edge.

of the disc, and means -for moving said rollers bodilytoward:and'away.from eachother` to adjust thepressure.I

exerted. thereby on the. disc, said '.last.means including eccentricsleeves in said head within which the rollerV straddle Aa disc andengage the opposinglfaces thereof` adjacent its edge,saidheadjbeingnpivotable.about an axis substantially transverse to theaxis of rotation of the rollers to move the rollers nearer to and awayfrom the edge of the disc, and means for moving said rollers bodilytoward and away from each other to adjust the pressure exerted therebyon the disc, -said last means including eccentric sleeves in said headwithin which the roller shafts rotate, gears on said sleeves, and wormsenmeshed with the gears to rotate the sleeves, a base on which the headis pivotally mounted, and shock absorber means interposed between thebase `and the head.

5. A disc Sharpener for discs which are rotatably supported by animplement frame comprising a fram1e, a head pivotally mounted on theframe, rotary shafts mounted in the head at a slightly divergent angle,a pair of side by side pressure rollers on said shafts adapted tostraddle a disc and engage the opposing faces thereof adjacent its edge,said head being pivotable about an axis substantially transverse to theaxis of rotation of the rollers to move the rollers nearer to and awayfrom the edge of the disc, and means for moving said rollers bodilytoward and away from each other to adjust the pressure exerted therebyon the disc, said last means including eccentric sleeves in said headwithin which the roller shafts rotate, gears on said sleeves, and wormsenmeshed with the gears to rotate the sleeves, and means associated withthe head for moving the head toward the edge of the disc.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS141,012 Fillings July 22, 1873 204,393 Trethewey May 28, 1878 609,847Summer Aug. 30, 1898 929,904 Ware Aug. 3, 1909 1,004,817 Quiry Oct. 3,1911 2,122,978 Eldridge et al. July 5, 1938 2,477,205 Reimer July v26,1949 2,571,632 Vinell et al Oct. 16, 1951' 2,662,572 Goodell et al. Dec.15, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 469 Great Britain Jan. 12, 1915 67,623Switzerland Jan. 12, 1914

